Medium containing printer maintenance guide program for automatic display on a computer in response to detecting a change in the printer status

ABSTRACT

In a case where maintenance operations are sequentially performed while the status of a computer peripheral device is determined, the status of the computer peripheral device may not be clearly determined, and it may be difficult for a user to perform the next operation. In a setup operation of a printer  1050,  the status of the printer  1050  such as existence/absence of ink cartridge or ink charging operation is detected on the side of computer  1010  via a printer driver  1073.  On the other hand, a setup guide program  1075  determines the progress of the setup operation from the status change of the printer  1050,  and sequentially displays images showing operation procedures in correspondence with the progress. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the user to perform the setup operation while determining the status of the printer  1050,  and the user can smoothly perform the setup operation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a medium containing a computerperipheral device maintenance guide program for displaying guidanceinformation indicative of a procedure of maintenance operation of acomputer peripheral device in a computer to which the computerperipheral device is connected, a computer peripheral device maintenanceguide device, and a computer peripheral device maintenance guide method.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] To use a computer peripheral device such as a printer, variousinstall operations must be performed. For example, in case of a printer,connection of an interface cable, attachment of ink or toner cartridge,installation of printer driver, and the like, are performed as installoperations. Among these operations, the printer driver or the like canbe automatically installed by using a predetermined install program,however, the other operations such as attachment of cartridge must bemanually performed in accordance with predetermined procedures.

[0003] Conventionally, such install operations are described in abook-style manual came with the printer. A user performs the operationsby referring to the manual arbitrarily. However, with the recentwidespread use of computers, general users without basic knowledgeperform these install operations. For this reason, to provide morepractical install operation procedures, a recording medium such as aCD-ROM for displaying install operation procedures with moving picturesand/or photographs is provided with the printer. The recording mediumcontains a setup guide program. When the setup guide program is executedon the computer, install operation procedures with moving picturesand/or photographs are displayed as described above. The user conductsthe install operations while watching the display images.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The above-described conventional art has the following problem.

[0005] It is apparent that the user can easily understand the installoperations if install operation procedures are displayed with movingpictures and/or photographs. However, in a case where the user mustsequentially conduct plural steps of install operation while judging thestatus of a computer peripheral device, it was difficult for the user todetermine whether or not he/she can perform the next operation step. Forexample, in a case where predetermined initialization processing must beperformed after a computer peripheral device has been powered and thenext operation step must be performed after the completion of theinitialization processing, the user does not know in what status he/shecan determine the completion of the initialization. In this case, theuser cannot determine whether or not the next operation step can beperformed.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the aboveproblem, and has its object to provide a medium containing a computerperipheral device maintenance guide program for displaying user-friendlyguidance information for smooth maintenance operation in case ofmaintenance operation while judging the status of the computerperipheral device, a computer peripheral device maintenance device, anda computer peripheral device maintenance guide method for the computerperipheral device.

[0007] To attain the foregoing object, the present invention accordingto claim 1 provides a medium containing a computer-executable computerperipheral device maintenance guide program to display guidanceinformation indicative of a procedure of a maintenance operation of acomputer peripheral device, in a computer to which the computerperipheral device is connected, the program comprising: a status changedetection step of detecting a status change of the computer peripheraldevice; a progress acquisition step of acquiring progress of themaintenance operation, based on the status change of the computerperipheral device detected at the status change detection step; and aguidance display step of obtaining corresponding guidance informationfrom a series of guidance information, provided corresponding to theprogress of the maintenance operation in advance, based on the progressacquired at the progress acquisition step, and producing a screendisplay of the guidance information on the computer.

[0008] In the present invention according to claim 1 having the aboveconstruction, when a computer peripheral device maintenance operation isperformed, the maintenance guide program is executed on a computer towhich the computer peripheral device is connected, and a usersequentially performs a series of maintenance operations in accordancewith displayed guidance information. In the execution of the maintenanceoperation, if the status of the computer peripheral device changes, themaintenance guide program detects the status change at the status changedetection step. Then at the progress acquisition step, the programobtains the progress of the maintenance operation based on the actuallydetected status change. At the guidance display step, the programobtains guidance information from a series of guidance information,previously set in correspondence to the progress of the maintenanceoperation, based on the progress, and then displays the guidanceinformation.

[0009] According to the conventional art, the user performs maintenanceoperations while judging the status of the computer peripheral device.On the other hand, according to the present invention, guidanceinformation corresponding to the progress of the maintenance operationis displayed, therefore, the user simply performs the maintenanceoperations sequentially in accordance with displayed images. Forexample, in a case where the computer peripheral device starts initialoperation after the power of the device is turned on, and themaintenance operation is started after the completion of initialoperation, the completion of initial operation can be detected andguidance information for the maintenance operation to be performedthereafter can be displayed by the maintenance guide program. In thiscase, it is not necessary for the user to determine whether or not theinitial operation of the computer peripheral device has been completed.The user can simply perform the maintenance operation in accordance withthe displayed guidance information. This is helpful for the user.

[0010] The maintenance operation here means an operation manuallyperformed by the user. The maintenance operation includes variousoperations such as an install operation into the computer, maintenancework like exchange of part, and an operation to remove an error. Forexample, in a case where the present invention is applied to a printeras a computer peripheral device, guidance on printer install operationmay be displayed, or guidance on operation procedure for removal oferror such as paper jam may be displayed.

[0011] The medium in which the maintenance guide program is recorded maybe a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optic recording medium, orfurther, may be any recording medium to be developed in the future.Further, duplicates including primary and secondary duplicates can beconsidered to be equivalent to the above recording medium. Further, thepresent invention can be applied to a case where the maintenance guideprogram is supplied via a communication line. Further, the presentinvention can be applied to a case where the maintenance guide programis written into a semiconductor chip.

[0012] Further, the idea of the invention does not change at all whenthe invention is realized by partially software and partially hardware.Further, the present invention can be applied to a case where a part ofthe invention is stored in a recording medium and it is arbitrarily readin accordance with necessity.

[0013] In this manner, to realize the present invention by software,hardware and an operating system may be utilized, or the presentinvention may be realized separately from the hardware and operatingsystem. For example, the processing to detect the status change may beperformed by reading a predetermined function in the operating system,or may be performed by inputting such function from the hardware. Evenin a case where the invention may be realized via the operating system,it can be understood that in the progress of recording the program intothe medium to be delivered to users, the present invention can beimplemented only by the program.

[0014] Further, in a case where the present invention is implemented bysoftware, the invention is realized as a medium containing a program,further, the present invention is realized as the program itself.Accordingly, the program itself is included in the present invention.

[0015] In a case where the guidance information is displayed, theconcrete guidance information may be displayed in various forms such asa message explaining the procedure of the maintenance operation or themessage with drawings and photographs. Using drawings and photographscan realize more practical maintenance operation guidance. For thisreason, the present invention according to claim 2 provides the mediumcontaining the computer-executable computer peripheral devicemaintenance guide program according to claim 1, wherein guidanceinformation as a moving picture is displayed.

[0016] In the present invention according to claim 2 having the aboveconstruction, the guidance information on the maintenance operation isdisplayed as a moving picture. Note that the moving picture may utilizea video image or time-sequential display of plural still images. Theconcrete format of the moving picture is not particularly limited.Further, if the computer has an audio output mechanism, audio guidancemay be outputted in correspondence with the display of the movingpicture of the guidance information.

[0017] The content of the guidance information to be displayed is notlimited to any particular content as long as it practically relates tothe maintenance operation. As an example, the present inventionaccording to claim 3 provides the medium containing thecomputer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide programaccording to any one of claim 1 and 2, wherein at the guidance displaystep, guidance information relating to the progress of the maintenanceoperation is displayed.

[0018] In the present invention according to claim 3 having the aboveconstruction, the guidance information relating to the progress of themaintenance operation is displayed, which helps the user. That is, asthe guidance information is displayed in correspondence with theprogress of the maintenance work, the user who does not judge byhimself/herself the status of the computer peripheral device, but theuser can easily perform the maintenance operation based on the displayedinformation as a guideline of judgment. More particularly, a necessaryperiod for the maintenance operation may be displayed, or the progressof the maintenance operation may be displayed in the form of a statusbar.

[0019] When the maintenance operation of the computer peripheral devicehas been completed, it may be checked whether or not the computerperipheral device normally operates. Accordingly, the present inventionaccording to claim 4 provides the medium containing thecomputer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide programaccording to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at the guidance displaystep, guidance information relating to a procedure of operation check onthe computer peripheral device is displayed.

[0020] That is, considering the operation check as a part of themaintenance operation, guidance information relating to the checkingoperation procedure is displayed. Further, the operation check guidanceinformation may has a wide variety of contents; for example, theguidance information may indicate an operation check procedure, or mayindicate that the operation check is being performed.

[0021] If it is determined as a result of operation check of thecomputer peripheral device in this manner that the device has an errorin its operation, the factor of the error must be removed. For thispurpose, the present invention according to claim 5 provides the mediumcontaining the computer-executable computer peripheral devicemaintenance guide program according to claim 4, wherein at the guidancedisplay step, guidance information to remove an error in an operation ofthe computer peripheral device in the operation check is displayed.

[0022] In the present invention according to claim 5 having the aboveconstruction, if it is determined as a result of operation check of thecomputer peripheral device that there is an error in the operation,guidance information to remove the error is displayed. The guidanceinformation may be a method to actually handle the error, or if thecomputer peripheral device is self-recoverable from an error, mayindicate that self recovery is being performed.

[0023] In this manner, the method for displaying guidance informationindicative of the procedure of maintenance operation of the computerperipheral device, comprising determining the progress of themaintenance operation based on the change of status of the computerperipheral device, and displaying the guidance information incorrespondence with the progress, can be realized in a computer having amaterial substance. In this meaning, it can be easily understood thatthe present invention is applicable to a device having a materialsubstance including a computer. Accordingly, the present inventionaccording to claim 6 provides a computer peripheral device maintenanceguide device to display guidance information indicative of a procedureof a maintenance operation of a computer peripheral device, in acomputer to which the computer peripheral device is connected, thedevice comprising: a status change detection unit for detecting a statuschange of the computer peripheral device; a progress acquisition unitfor acquiring progress of the maintenance operation, based on the statuschange of the computer peripheral device detected by the status changedetection unit; and a guidance display unit for obtaining correspondingguidance information from a series of guidance information, providedcorresponding to the progress of the maintenance operation in advance,based on the progress acquired by the progress acquisition unit, andproducing a screen display of the guidance information on the computer.

[0024] That is, the present invention can be realized as a device havinga material substance controlled by a computer. Such computer peripheraldevice maintenance guide device may be implemented as a single device,or may be incorporated into another device and implemented with anothermethod. Thus, the idea of the invention is not limited to the computerperipheral device maintenance guide device having the above constructionbut includes various aspects and may be arbitrarily changed.

[0025] Further, in a medium in which the computer peripheral devicemaintenance guide program is recorded, to proceed with processing inaccordance with such control by the program, the present invention liesat the root of the process procedure. Accordingly, it can be easilyunderstood that the present invention can be applied to a method. Thepresent invention according to claim 7 provides a computer peripheraldevice maintenance guide method to display guidance informationindicative of a procedure of a maintenance operation for a computerperipheral device, in a computer to which the computer peripheral deviceis connected, the method comprising: a status change detection step ofdetecting a status change of the computer peripheral device; a progressacquisition step of acquiring progress of the maintenance operation,based on the status change of the computer peripheral device detected atthe status change detection step; and a guidance display step ofobtaining corresponding guidance information from a series of guidanceinformation, provided corresponding to the progress of the maintenanceoperation in advance, based on the progress acquired at the progressacquisition step, and producing a screen display of the guidanceinformation on the computer.

[0026] That is, the present invention is applicable not only to a mediumhaving a material substance but also to a method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of acomputer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing various programs recorded ina hard disk of the computer in FIG. 1 and data flow among the program;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the programsrecorded in a setup CD-ROM;

[0030]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for execution of theprograms recorded in the setup CD-ROM;

[0031]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a setup guide program according tothe first embodiment;

[0032]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a connection subroutine;

[0033]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a cartridge attachment subroutine;

[0034]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation check subroutine;

[0035]FIGS. 9A to 9D are diagrams showing the progress of change ofscreen display in test printing;

[0036]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display image when an evaluation ofthe result of test printing is inputted;

[0037]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of thecomputer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the connection between thecomputer and peripheral devices;

[0039]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of softwarein the computer;

[0040]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of aprinter;

[0041]FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the setup guide program accordingto the second embodiment;

[0042]FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an ink-cartridge attachmentroutine;

[0043]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an image instructing to open aprinter cover;

[0044]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an image instructing to open an inkcartridge clamp;

[0045]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an image instructing to open an inkcartridge package;

[0046]FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an image instructing to attach theink cartridge;

[0047]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an image indicating that ink chargingis being performed;

[0048]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an image indicating that the inkcharging has been completed;

[0049]FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a nozzle check pattern printingroutine;

[0050]FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an image indicating a method forsetting paper for nozzle check;

[0051]FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an image instructing to adjust paperguides of a paper support;

[0052]FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an image for inputting an instructionto print or not to print a nozzle check pattern;

[0053]FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an image instructing to check whethernozzles are clogged or not;

[0054]FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an image for selecting the object ofhead cleaning;

[0055]FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an image indicating that headcleaning processing is being performed; and

[0056]FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an image indicating that setup hasbeen completed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIRST EMBODIMENT

[0057] Hereinbelow, a first embodiment of the present invention will nowbe described in accordance with the accompanying drawings.

[0058]FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the hardwareconstruction of a computer. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showingvarious programs recorded in a hard disk of the computer.

[0059] In these figures, a computer 10, comprising a main board 11holding electronic parts such as a CPU, a ROM and a ROM (not shown), canexecute programs, and controls operations of various hardware by themain board 11. Specifically, the computer 10 comprises a HD drive 12, aCD-ROM drive 13 and an FD drive 14. The computer 10 accesses these drivedevices via an operating system 12 a, and perform communication with anexternal device via a modem board 15. Further, the computer 10 has adisplay unit (not shown).

[0060] Further, a printer 20 as a peripheral device can be connected tothe computer 10 via a printer interface (not shown) on the main board11. In the execution of an application 12 b on the above operatingsystem 12 a, when a print instruction is issued from the application 12b, predetermined print data is generated via a printer driver 12 c. Notethat the printer 20 in the present embodiment is an ink-jet colorprinter, and the printer driver 12 c internally converts rasterized RGBmultilevel data into CMYK multilevel data, then converts the CMYKmultilevel data to binary data, and outputs the binary data to theprinter 20.

[0061] In the printer 20, a paper support as a part of a sheet feeder(not shown) can be disassembled for convenience of storage. Uponshipment from factory, the paper support in disassembled status ispacked. In this status, an ink cartridge is not attached to the printer.Accordingly, to use the printer 20, install operations such as assemblyof the sheet feeder, attachment of the ink cartridge and cableconnection must be performed.

[0062] Generally, as the procedures of these install operations of theprinter are described in a book-style manual came with the printer, theinstall operations are performed by actually referring to the manual.However, it may be difficult for a user with no experience of suchinstall work to understand the procedure. Accordingly, conventionally, arecording medium such as a setup CD-ROM in which a setup guide programis recorded is packed with the printer. The setup guide program isexecuted on the computer side, and a printer install operationprocedures are displayed on the display unit. More practical explanationcan be made by using photographs of actual installation and the like.

[0063] The printer 20 employed in the present embodiment is also packedwith a setup CD-ROM 13 a having the program arrangement as shown in FIG.3.

[0064] In FIG. 3, the setup CD-ROM 13 a contains automatic startupcontrol information 13 a 1, an install program 13 a 2, the printerdriver 12 c, a utility 12 d, and a setup guide program 13 a 3. Theautomatic startup control information 13 a 1 is control information toautomatically start a specific program recorded in the setup CD-ROM 13 awhen the setup CD-ROM 13 a is attached to the computer 10. Morespecifically, the automatic startup control information 13 a 1 isrecorded in a predetermined recording area of the setup CD-ROM 13 a. Theoperating system 12 a detects attachment of the setup CD-ROM 13 a andsearches the above recording area, and if the automatic startup controlinformation 13 a 1 exists, starts a predetermined program in accordancewith the content of the information. In the present embodiment, as shownin the flowchart of FIG. 4, the install program 13 a 2 is started basedon the automatic startup control information 13 a 1 at step S110.

[0065] The install program 13 a 2 is employed to install programs suchas the printer driver 12 c and the utility 12 d recorded in the setupCD-ROM 13 a into the computer 10. The install program 13 a 2 transfersthe programs as the objects of installation to the HD drive 12 of thecomputer 10 at step S110, and performs other processing such as aninitialization file setting. The utility 12 d has functions to produce ascreen display indicating the amount of residual ink in the inkcartridge attached to the printer 20, and to produce a screen displayindicating an error such as paper jam in the printer 20. Morespecifically, the printer 20 outputs status information indicative ofthe status of the printer 20 including the above-described amount ofresidual ink, the error and the like, and on the computer side, thestatus information is obtained via the printer driver 12 c, and imagedisplay is performed by the utility 12 d based on the statusinformation.

[0066] Further, by using the utility 12 d, head cleaning can beperformed in the printer 20, and the setting of a color conversion tableof the printer driver 12 c can be changed. When the utility 12 dperforms head cleaning in the printer 20, the utility 12 d transmits ahead cleaning instruction command via the printer driver 12 c to theprinter 20. The printer 20 receives the head cleaning instructioncommand and performs head cleaning processing.

[0067] That is, the computer 10 and the printer 20 can performbidirectional communication with each other via the printer driver 12 c.The computer 10 transfers print data to the printer 20, and further,obtains the status information from the printer 20 and causes theprinter 20 to perform head cleaning or the like.

[0068] When the install program 13 a 2 ends, the setup guide program 13a 3 is started at step S120. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, thesetup guide program 13 a 3 internally executes “connection subroutine”,“cartridge attachment subroutine” and “operation check subroutine”sequentially, and produces screen displays of guidance informationrelating to the install operations of the printer 20, thus assisting theuser to smoothly perform installation (steps S210 to S230).

[0069]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the connection subroutine at stepS210. At step S305, a method for assembling the above-described papersupport, with audio guidance, is displayed by using photographs and thelike. Then at step S310, the movement of the moving picture istemporarily stopped. The user watches the displayed content and actuallyassembles the paper support. When the assembly operation has beencompleted, the user inputs acknowledgment (OK). The setup guide program13 a 3 detects the input at step S315. At step S320, similarly, a screendisplay indicating a method for connecting a power source cable and amethod for connecting an interface cable between the computer 10 and theprinter 20 is produced, and the movement of the moving picture istemporarily stopped at step S325. Similarly, the user watches thedisplayed content and performs actual connection operation, then whenthe connection operation has been completed, inputs acknowledgment (OK).Then, similarly, the setup guide program 13 a 3 detects the input atstep S330. At step S335, a screen display indicating a method forturning the power of the printer 20 on is produced.

[0070] If the user turns the power of the printer 20 on, the printer 20reads predetermined firm ware from a nonvolatile memory (not shown) intoa work area. When the reading has been completed, the printer 20diagnoses its status at predetermined intervals, and outputs thediagnosis as the status information to the computer 10. Accordingly,when the computer 10 can receive the status information via the printerdriver 12 c, it can be determined that the printer 20 has normallystarted. Then at step S340, if the setup guide program 13 a 3 determinesthat the status information from the printer 20 has been obtained, theprogram displays a message indicating that the printer 20 has beenrecognized at step S345, and terminates the connection subroutine. Notethat the printer driver 12 c is installed by the install program 13 a 2before the setup guide program 13 a 3 is executed such that the setupguide program 13 a 3 performs communication with the printer 20 byutilizing the printer driver 12 c.

[0071] When the setup guide program 13 a 3 terminates the connectionsubroutine at step S210, then at step S220, executes the cartridgeattachment subroutine. FIG. 7 shows the cartridge attachment subroutineas a flowchart. At step S410, a method for attaching an ink cartridge,with audio guidance, is displayed by using photographs and the like. Atstep S420, the movement of the moving picture is temporarily stopped.Then, the user watches the displayed content and attaches the inkcartridge to a predetermined position of the printer 20.

[0072] As described above, the printer 20 diagnoses its status atpredetermined intervals, and if it detects attachment of the inkcartridge, it starts ink charging to nozzles (not shown), generatesstatus information indicating that ink charging is being performed, andtransmits the status information to the printer 10. The setup guideprogram 13 a 3 monitors the status information obtained via the printerdriver 12 c. If the setup guide program 13 a 3 detects based on thestatus information that the ink charging is being performed at stepS430, it displays an image indicating that the ink charging is beingperformed at step S440. At step S450, the setup guide program 13 a 3produces a screen display of the residual time by the completion of inkcharging while counting down the time. As the time necessary for inkcharging is unique to the printer 20 depending on printer model, thetime necessary for ink charging is empirically obtained in advance, andthe counting down is started with the time as an initial value. When thecounting down has ended, the setup guide program 13 a 3 produces ascreen display indicating that the ink charging has completed at stepS460, and terminates the cartridge attachment subroutine.

[0073] When the setup guide program 13 a 3 terminates the cartridgeattachment subroutine, it executes the operation check subroutine atstep S230. FIG. 8 shows the operation check subroutine as a flowchart.At step S505, a screen display indicating a method for loading paper isproduced, and at step S510, a selection image for selecting whetheroperation check should be made or not is displayed. If the operationcheck is selected, the setup guide program 13 a 3 performs test printingat step S515 by using the print data previously prepared.

[0074] As it is well known, a print procedure of the printer 20approximately includes print data generation by the printer driver 12 c,transfer of the generated print data to the printer 20, mapping of thereceived print data in a memory of the printer 20, and output of theprint data mapped in the memory. Upon test printing at step S515, theflow of the print procedure is sequentially displayed as shown in FIGS.9A to 9D. The generation of print data as shown in FIG. 9A and thetransfer of print data as shown in FIG. 9B are steps which can bedetected from the printer driver 12 c, and sequentially displayed inaccordance with the results of actual detection of these operations. Onthe other hand, print preparation as shown in FIG. 9C includes printdata memory mapping, warm-up processing and the like, on the printer 20side. These statuses of the printer 20 including the completion ofprinting as shown in FIG. 9D can be obtained from the above-describedstatus information. The operations are sequentially displayed based onthe status information. Accordingly, even if the user lacks basicknowledge of the printer 20 when he/she conducts the installation, theuser understands the outline of the print procedure upon test printing,and can more deeply understand the printer 20.

[0075] The setup guide program 13 a 3 that has executed theabove-described test printing processing, displays an image as shown inFIG. 10 at step S520, for the user's selection as to whether the resultof printing is good or not. In this image, the user can select one ofthree displayed items by click operation. For example, if the result ofprinting is not good, the user selects the second item (ink recharging).Then, the setup guide program 13 a 3 detects the selection at step S525,and instructs the printer 20 to recharge ink into the ink cartridge atstep S530. More specifically, the setup guide program 13 a 3 transmits apredetermined command to the printer 20 via the printer driver 12 c.Then in response to the command, the printer 20 starts recharging.Thereafter, at steps S535 to S545, as described above, a screen displayindicating that ink recharging is being performed is produced, then ascreen display indicating that the ink recharging has been completed isproduced. The process returns to step S510 to perform similarprocessing.

[0076] When the result of printing is not good, the printhead may beclogged, or there may be an error in the setting of the color conversiontable of the printer driver 12 c. The probability that such error hasoccurred in the process of installation of the printer 20 is very low.Accordingly, in the present embodiment, ink recharging is performed.However, processing to be performed is not limited to the ink rechargingbut any other processing may be performed.

[0077] After the ink recharging, if the result of test printing has notbeen improved, in the selection image as shown in FIG. 10, the thirditem (ink charging abnormality) is selected. Then, at step S550, ascreen display indicating that contact must be established with aservice center and/or sales shop is produced. The display image may showa telephone number and/or a mail address of the service center. Further,it may be more useful for the user if it is arranged such that apredetermined flag is set upon execution of ink recharging at step S530,and the second item in the selection image in FIG. 10 is unselectablydisplayed if the flag is set.

[0078] Next, the operation of the present embodiment constructed asabove will be described.

[0079] When the printer 20 is installed into the system of the computer10, the user attaches the setup CD-ROM 13 a came with the printer 20 tothe CD-ROM drive 13. Then, the operating system 12 a detects attachmentof the setup CD-ROM 13 a, searches for the automatic startup controlinformation 13 a 1 recorded in the predetermined recording area. Inaccordance with the content of the automatic startup control information13 a 1, first, the install program 13 a 2 is executed, to install theprinter driver 12 c and the utility 12 d into the computer 10 (stepS110).

[0080] When the install program 13 a 2 has ended, next, the setup guideprogram 13 a 3 is executed (step S120). The setup guide program 13 a 3is employed to sequentially produce screen displays of guidanceinformation related to the install operation of the printer 20. First,the connection subroutine is executed (step S210). In the connectionsubroutine, the method for assembling the paper support of the printer20, with audio guidance, is displayed by using photographs and the like,and the movement of the moving picture is temporarily stopped (stepsS305 and S310). Then, the user watches the displayed content andactually assembles the paper support. When the assembly operation hasbeen completed and the user inputs acknowledgment, the displayed contentproceeds with consequent content (step S315). Similarly, as the methodfor connecting the power cable and the like and the method for turningthe power of the printer 20 on are displayed, the user performs actualoperations while watching the displayed contents (steps S320 to S335).

[0081] When the power of the printer 20 is turned on, the printer 20reads special-purpose firmware from the nonvolatile memory (not shown)into the work area, diagnoses its status at predetermined intervals andgenerates the diagnosis as the status information, and transmits thestatus information to the computer 10 side. When the computer 10 obtainsthe status information from the printer 20 via the printer driver 12 c(step S340), it produces a screen display indicating that the printer 20has been recognized, and terminates the connection subroutine (stepS345).

[0082] Thereafter, the setup guide program 13 a 3 executes the cartridgeattachment subroutine (step S220). Similarly, in the cartridgeattachment subroutine, the method for attaching the ink cartridge isdisplayed, and the movement of the moving picture is temporarily stopped(steps S410 and S420). Then the user watches the displayed content andattaches the ink cartridge to the printer 20. Then the printer 20detects attachment of the ink cartridge, starts ink charging to thenozzles, and transmits the status information indicating that inkcharging is being performed to the computer 10. The computer 10 sidedetects from the status information that ink charging is being performedin the printer 20 (step S430), produces a screen display indicating thestatus, and displays the residual time by the completion of ink chargingwhile counting down the time (steps S440 and S450). Then, when the countdown has ended, the computer 10 produces a screen display indicating thecompletion of ink charging, and terminates the cartridge attachmentsubroutine (step S460).

[0083] Thereafter, the setup guide program 13 a 3 executes the operationcheck subroutine (step S230). In the operation check subroutine, first,a screen display indicating the method for loading paper is produced(step S505), and a selection image for selecting whether operation checkis performed or not is displayed (step S510). If the user selects theoperation check, the setup guide program 13 a 3 performs test printingby using previously prepared print data. At this time, the setup guideprogram 13 a 3 sequentially displays the print procedure as shown inFIGS. 9A to 9D (step S515). Accordingly, even if the user who lacksbasic knowledge of the printer 20 when he/she conducts the installation,the user understands the outline of the print procedure upon testprinting, and can more deeply understand the printer 20.

[0084] When the test printing has been completed, the setup guideprogram 13 a 3 displays an image as shown in FIG. 10 for the user'sselection as to whether the result of printing is good or not (stepS520). If the result of printing is good, the user selects the firstitem, to terminate the setup guide program 13 a 3. On the other hand, ifthe result of printing is not good, the user selects the second item.Then, the setup guide program 13 a 3 transmits the predetermined commandto the printer 20 via the printer driver 12 c, to perform ink recharging(steps S525 and S530).

[0085] In the ink recharging, a screen display indicating that the inkrecharging is being performed is produced (step S535), and the residualtime being counted down is displayed (step S540). When the inkrecharging is completed, a screen display indicating that the inkrecharging has been completed is produced (step S545) Thereafter, testprinting is performed again (step S510) and if the result of printinghas not been improved (step S515), the user selects the third item inthe selection image as shown in FIG. 10 (step S520). In this case, thesetup guide program 13 a 3 produces a screen display indicating thatcontact must be established with the service center and/or the salesshop (step S550), the user makes contact with the service center and/orthe sales shop.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

[0086] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

[0087]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of thecomputer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 11, a computer 1010 has a CPU 1011 which serves as the nerve centerof computation. The CPU 1011 is connected to a secondary cash 1013, adata bus unit 1014 and a system controller 1015 via a CPU bus 1012. Inrecent years, computers have increased a clock speed of the CPU bus 1012to improve processing performance. The CPU 1011 accesses a slow memory1016 via the data bus unit 1014 or the system controller 1015. Note thatthe memory 1016 includes a ROM area such as a BIOS area and a RAM area.

[0088] Similarly, as interfaces and the like cannot be directlyconnected to the fast CPU bus 1012, they are connected to the data busunit 1014 and the system controller 1015 via a PCI bus 1017 which is ageneral-purpose high-speed bus. The PCI bus 1017 is connected to acommon interface 1018 for connection with a floppy disk, as well as acommunication interface for a PS/2 port, a parallel port and a serialport directly owned by the computer 1010, and connected to a bus master1019 connected to a hard disk requiring high-speed operation and aCD-ROM for DMA transfer.

[0089] The PCI bus 1017 can be directly connected to a PCI device 1021,further, can be connected to an ISA bus 1023 which is an old-typegeneral-purpose bus for communication with a narrow data-width, via anISA bridge 1022, such that the PCI bus 1017 can be connected to an ISAdevice 1024 via the ISA bus 1023.

[0090]FIG. 12 shows peripheral device of the computer 1010. A keyboard1025 and a mouse 1026 are connected to the common interface 1018 via thePS/2 port; a printer 1050 is connected to the common interface 1018 viathe parallel port; and a modem 1027 is connected to the common interface1018 via the serial port. A scanner 1028 is connected to the PCI bus1017 via a SCSI card 1021a as a PCI device 1021. Various externaldevices can be connected to the SCSI card 1021 a. For example, anmagneto-optic storage device 1031 is connected to the SCSI card 1021 a.Further, a display 1029 is connected to the PCI bus 1017 via a displaycontroller card 1021 b. A hard disk 1019 a and a CD-ROM drive 1019 b areconnected to the PCI bus 1017 via the bus master 1019.

[0091] As the ISA device 1024, various devices can be provided. A PCMCIAcard 1024 a is connectable to a PCMCIA card socket 1032 to which amemory card 1033 can be attached, to facilitate data input/output. Thememory card 1033 can easily input data from a digital still camera 1034or a mobile computer and the like.

[0092] The computer 1010 can be connected to an external display via avideo card, in addition to these devices, and can be connected to a LANcard so as to be connected to a network, and further, can be connectedto another external device via an infrared communication device.

[0093] The hardware construction of the computer system is as describedabove, with which software as shown in FIG. 13 is executed on thecomputer 1010. That is, a BIOS 1042 is executed on the basis of hardware1041, and in its upper layer, an operating system 1043 and anapplication 1044 are executed. Basically, the operating system 1043access the hardware 1041 directly or via the BIOS 1042, and theapplication 1044 transmits/receives data to/from the hardware 1041 viathe operating system 1043. For example, to read data from the hard disk1019 a, the application 1044 accesses the hardware 1041 via theoperating system 1043. Further, various drivers for controlling thehardware 1041 may be installed into the operating system 1043. Theinstalled drivers perform various control as parts of the operatingsystem 1043. As the drivers, a display driver to control display on anexternal display device via a video card, a printer driver to performprint control on the printer 1050 and the like are installed.

[0094] On the other hand, FIG. 14 shows the schematic construction ofthe printer 1050. The printer 1050 has a parallel I/O 1051 forconnection with the parallel port of the computer 1010, andtransmits/receives commands and print data by parallel communication.The parallel I/O is an interface enabling bidirectional communicationsuch as nibble, ECB and EPP. The parallel I/O 1051 is connected to agate array 1052, and connected to a bus 1053 via the gate array 1052. ACPU 1054, a system ROM 1055, a character generating (CG) ROM 1056 and aD-RAM 1057 are interconnected to the bus 1053. The CPU 1054 executes aprinter control program written in the system ROM 1055 while using theD-RAM 1057 as a work area, and performs printing by utilizing font dataand the like written in the CG ROM 1056.

[0095] The printer 1050 in the second embodiment is a color ink-jetprinter which performs printing by using four color ink, cyan (C) ink,magenta (M) ink, yellow (Y) ink and black (K) ink, and two light colorink, light cyan (c) ink and light magenta (m) ink. A concrete printingmechanism is electrically controlled via the gate array 1052. Printingis performed on approximately the entire surface of print paper bymoving a printhead 1061 forward/backward (main-scanning) by a carriagemotor 1058 upon discharging necessary color ink, while feeding(subscanning) the paper by a paper feed (PF) motor 1062. To performactual printing, print paper is set in a predetermined paper support inadvance. Then, the paper feed motor 1062 captures the paper and feedsit.

[0096] A printhead 1061 comprises six printhead units corresponding tothe C, c, M, m, Y and K color ink, and each printhead unit is suppliedwith corresponding color ink from an ink cartridge attached to theprinter 1050 and can discharge the color ink independently. In thepresent embodiment, a micropump mechanism to discharge color ink byutilizing piezo devices as electrostriction transducers is employed,however, a mechanism to discharge color ink by utilizing a bubbleexpansion pressure may be employed. Further, the printer 1050 uses thecolor ink of six C, c, M, m, Y and K colors, however, the printer mayuse four C, M, Y, K color ink.

[0097] The gate array 1052 connected to the printhead 1061 is alsoconnected to a timer counter 1063 which generates a clock or the like tobe used by the system, a nonvolatile EEPROM 1064 for storing settings,and an operation panel 1065. Further, the gate array 1052 is connectedto a residual ink sensor 1066 for detecting the amount of residual inkin an actually attached ink cartridge and a paper sensor 1067 fordetecting shortage of print paper in the paper support. The printer 1050detects ink shortage and paper shortage by utilizing outputs from thesesensors, and notifies the user of the ink shortage and paper shortage byblink of an LED (not shown).

[0098] A part of the paper support of the printer 1050 can bedisassembled, and upon shipment from factory, the paper support indisassembled status is packed. Accordingly, to install the printer 1050into the computer system, install operations such as assembly of papersupport, connection of AC cable and interface cable must be performed.Generally, the procedures of such printer install operations aredescribed in a book-style manual came with the printer. The userperforms actual install operations by referring to the manual. In thepresent embodiment, the user performs the assembly of paper support, theconnection of AC cable and interface cable while referring to themanual.

[0099] In the manual, there is a description “When the connection of theinterface cable has been completed, turn the power of the computer on,and set the setup CD-ROM in the package.” Then the user turns the powerof the computer 1010 on and attaches the setup CD-ROM to the CD-ROMdrive 1019 b, in accordance with the instruction of the manual. Thesetup CD-ROM has a program arrangement as shown in FIG. 3, comprisingautomatic startup control information 1071, an install program 1072, aprinter driver 1073, a utility 1074 and a setup guide program 1075.Similarly, in the present embodiment, when the setup CD-ROM is attachedto the CD-ROM drive 1019 b, the programs are executed in accordance withthe flowchart of FIG. 4.

[0100] That is, in the present embodiment, the install program 1072 isexecuted by the computer 1010 at step S110, and the programs such as theprinter driver 1073 and the utility 1074 are installed into the computer1010.

[0101] The printer driver 1073 generates predetermined print data incooperation with the operating system 1043, and transmits the print datato the printer 1050 to perform printing. Accordingly, in this meaning,the computer 1050 may perform unidirectional communication with theprinter 1050, however, in the present embodiment, bidirectionalcommunication is possible between the computer 1010 and the printer 1050by the printer driver 1073. The printer 1050 side outputs sensor outputsfrom the residual ink sensor 1066 and the paper sensor 1067 and variouserror outputs, as status information, to the computer 1010.

[0102] On the other hand, the utility 1074 obtains the statusinformation via the printer driver 1073, and produces a screen displayindicating the amount of residual ink in the printer 1050 or produces ascreen display indicating an error such as paper shortage or paper jamin the printer 1050, based on the status information. Further, theutility 1074 can be utilized to cause the printer 1050 to performcleaning on the printhead 1061, or to perform setting on a colorconversion table of the printer driver 1073. When the utility 1074performs cleaning on the printhead 1061, the utility transmits apredetermined cleaning instruction command to the printer 1050 via theprinter driver 1073. Then, the printer 1050 receives the cleaninginstruction command by the gate array 1052, and performs predeterminedhead cleaning processing. Note that in the present embodiment, the headcleaning processing can be performed independently on the black-inkprinthead unit and other color ink printhead units.

[0103] Returning to the description of the setup CD-ROM, at step S110,the install program 1072 is executed, and when the installation of theprinter driver 1073 and the utility 1074 have been completed, the setupguide program 1075 is executed at step S120. FIG. 15 is a flowchartshowing the setup guide program according to the second embodiment. Atstep S1210, an image instructing to turn the power of the printer 1050on is displayed, and at step S1220, the program waits until the statusinformation is obtained from the printer 1050 via the installed printerdriver 1073. That is, if the status information can be obtained, thepower of the printer 1050 is on. At step S1220, it is determined whetheror not the power of the printer 1050 is on.

[0104] If the status information from the printer 1050 is detected atstep S1220, an ink-cartridge attachment instruction routine is executedat step S1230. That is, as the ink cartridge is not attached to theprinter 1050 at this time, the ink cartridge attachment instructionroutine is executed to advise the user to attach the ink cartridge tothe printer. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the ink-cartridge attachmentinstruction routine. At step S1305, an image as shown in FIG. 17 isdisplayed to instruct the user to open a printer cover. In the image, asan illustration of the printer where the printer cover is opened and anexplanation are displayed, the user can easily open the printer cover bywatching the image. When the user has opened the printer cover, the userclicks a “Next” button provided in a lower right position in the image.

[0105] Then, the setup guide program 1075 detects the click operation atstep S1310, and displays an image as shown in FIG. 18 at step S1315 toinstruct to open an ink cartridge clamp in the printer 1050. The inkcartridge clamp is a cover of a holder to which the ink cartridge isattached. In the image as shown in FIG. 18, a significant-part enlargedview where the ink cartridge clamp is opened and an explanation aredisplayed. Accordingly, the user opens the ink cartridge clamp inaccordance with the displayed content of the image, and clicks the“Next” button in the lower right position in the image. Further, a“Back” button is provided on the left side of the “Next” button. If the“Back” button is clicked, its previous image is displayed.

[0106] In the image as shown in FIG. 18, when the “Next” button isclicked, the setup guide program 1075 detects the click operation atstep S1320, and displays an image as shown in FIG. 19 at step S1325 toinstruct to open the package of the ink cartridge. That is, as the inkcartridge is sealed from ink leakage and packaged, the seal is removedsuch that the cartridge can be attached to the printer 1050. In theimage, as an illustration of the ink cartridge where the seal is removedand an explanation are displayed, the user removes the seal inaccordance with the displayed content in the image, then clicks the“Next” button in the lower light position in the image. Similarly, the“Back” button is provided on the left side of the “Next” button, and ifthe “Back” button is clicked, the previous image can be displayed.

[0107] In the image as shown in FIG. 19, when the “Next” button isclicked, the setup guide program 1075 detects the click operation atstep S1330, and displays an image as shown in FIG. 20 at step S1335 toinstruct to attach the ink cartridge to the printer. In the image, as amethod for attaching the ink cartridge to the printer is displayed by anillustration and an explanation, the user attaches the ink cartridge tothe printer in accordance with the displayed content of the image. Thesetup guide program 1075 that displayed the image as shown in FIG. 20,monitors the status information from the printer 1050 via the printerdriver 1073 at step S1340, to determine whether or not the ink cartridgehas been attached to the printer. More specifically, it may bedetermined based on the sensor output from the residual ink sensor 1066whether or not the ink cartridge has been attached. The program obtainsthe sensor output from the status information and makes a determination.

[0108] Then, if it is determined that the ink cartridge has beenattached to the printer, an “OK” button in the lower right position inthe image as shown in FIG. 20 is activated for the user's clickoperation at step S1345. Accordingly, if there is some error in theattachment of the ink cartridge, the “OK” button is not activated, andthe user wonders if some error has occurred. Further, it may be arrangedsuch that in consideration of the possibility of the occurrence of errorin attachment of the ink cartridge, a predetermined time-out period isset, and when the time-out has occurred, an image to advise the user tocheck the attachment of the ink cartridge is displayed.

[0109] On the other hand, in the image as shown in FIG. 20, when theuser clicks the “OK” button, the setup guide program 1075 detects theclick operation at step S1350, and terminates the ink-cartridgeattachment instruction routine.

[0110] When the printer 1050 detects that the ink cartridge has beenattached to the printer, starts ink charging to the nozzles. The setupguide program 1075 that terminated the ink-cartridge attachmentinstruction routine at step S1230, executes an ink charging displayroutine at step S1240. In the ink charging display routine, an image asshown in FIG. 21 is displayed to notify the user that ink charging isbeing performed. In FIG. 21, a status bar is provided in a horizontaldirection in about the center of the image, and the status bar graduallyextends rightward from the left of the image, in correspondence with theprogress of ink charging processing.

[0111] The progress of ink charging processing can be detected from thestatus information obtained via the printer driver 1073. The setup guideprogram 1075 gradually extends the status bar while detecting the actualprogress of ink charging. More specifically, as the time necessary forthe ink charging processing is unique to the printer depending onprinter type, it may be arranged such that the printer 1050 counts thetime elapsed from the start of ink charging and outputs the time as thestatus information. Note that in the present embodiment, the status baris displayed to indicate the progress of ink charging, however, theresidual time by the completion of ink charging, being counted down, maybe displayed.

[0112] In the image as shown in FIG. 21, if the user determines from thestatus bar that the ink charging has been completed, the user clicks the“Next” button in the lower right position in the image. Then, the setupguide program 1075 detects the click operation, and displays an image asshown in FIG. 22, to notify the user that the ink charging has beencompleted and nozzle check pattern printing processing is to beexecuted. In the image as shown in FIG. 22, similarly, the “Next” buttonis provided in the lower right position, and when the “Next” button isclicked, the setup guide program 1075 terminates the ink chargingdisplay routine, and at step S1250, executes a nozzle check patternprinting routine.

[0113]FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the nozzle check pattern printingroutine. At step S1410, an image as shown in FIG. 24 is displayed toinstruct a method for loading print paper for nozzle check with anillustration and an explanation. The user sets print paper on the papersupport of the printer 1050 in accordance with the displayed content inthe image, and clicks the “Next” button displayed in the lower rightposition in the image. Then, the setup guide program 1075 detects theclick operation at step S1420, and displays an image as shown in FIG. 25at step S1430, to instruct to adjust paper guides of the paper support,similarly with an illustration and an explanation. More specifically, inthe paper support, its support width can be adjusted in correspondencewith paper size. The user watches the image and appropriately adjuststhe paper guides, the clicks the “Next” button in the lower rightposition in the image. Similarly, the “Back” button is provided on theleft side of the “Next” button. If the “Back” button is clicked, theprevious image can be displayed.

[0114] In the image as shown in FIG. 25, when the “Next” button isclicked, the setup guide program 1075 detects the click operation atstep S1440, and at step S1450, displays an image as shown in FIG. 26 toadvise the user to select whether or not a nozzle check pattern isprinted and input the result of selection. The nozzle check pattern is aprint pattern for determination as to whether or not the nozzles areclogged. If the nozzle check pattern is to be printed, a “Print” buttonprovided in the lower right position in the image is clicked. Then thesetup guide program 1075 executes nozzle check pattern print processingat step S1460.

[0115] That is, the setup guide program 1075 causes the printer driver1073 to generate predetermined print data and transfer the print data tothe printer 1050. Then the printer 1050 maps the print data on the D-RAM1057 as a buffer, and when the print data has been mapped, performsactual printing. Thus, the nozzle check pattern is printed. When thenozzle check pattern printing routine has been completed, the setupguide program 1075 displays an image as shown in FIG. 27 at step S1260.In this image, an illustration and an explanation are displayed forvisually checking whether or not the nozzles are clogged and performingcleaning on the printhead 1061 in accordance with necessity. The userwatches the image, and if head cleaning is necessary, clicks a “Clean”button in the lower right position in the image. Further, if headcleaning is not necessary, the user clicks a “Finish” button on the leftof the “Clean” button, to terminate the setup operation.

[0116] If the user clicks the “Clean” button, the setup guide program1075 detects the click operation at step S1260, and executes a headcleaning routine at step S1270. In the head cleaning routine, first, animage as shown in FIG. 28 is displayed, to advise the user to select theblack ink printhead unit, the color ink printhead unit or both printheadunits, and to click one of “Black”, “Color” and “Both” buttons inaccordance with the user's selection.

[0117] When the user clicks one of these buttons, the setup guideprogram 1075 transmits the above-described cleaning instruction commandto the printer 1050 to cause the printer to perform cleaning on anactual printhead unit of color ink corresponding to the clicked button.The printer 1050 receives the cleaning instruction command, and startscleaning on the printhead unit of the corresponding color ink. At thesame time, the setup guide program 1075 displays an image as shown inFIG. 29, to notify the user that head cleaning is being performed.

[0118] In this image, a moving picture showing a window being cleanedwith a wiper is displayed, with residual time by the completion of headcleaning. The time necessary for the head cleaning differs based on thetype of printhead unit, i.e., whether the cleaning is performed on theblack ink printhead unit, the color ink printhead unit or both black andcolor ink printhead units. However, the time can be empirically obtainedin advance, and the pre-obtained time is displayed in correspondencewith the actually clicked button. Further, the printer 1050 outputsinformation indicating that the head cleaning is being performed, as thestatus information. The setup guide program 1075 side monitors thestatus information via the printer driver 1073, and when it detects thatthe head cleaning has been completed, displays an image as shown in FIG.30, to notify the user of the completion of the setup operation.

[0119] As described above, in the present embodiment, the user performsa setup operation while watching an image displayed by the setup guideprogram 1075, and in accordance with the progress of the setupoperation, an image relating to the next setup operation is displayed.Accordingly, it is not necessary for the user to pay attention to thestatus of the printer 1050, e.g., whether or not an ink cartridge hasbeen correctly attached, or whether or not ink charging has beencompleted. The user may simply perform the setup operations inaccordance with the sequentially displayed images. In the presentembodiment, the information displayed in the respective imagescorrespond to the guidance information, and the setup CD-ROM in whichthe setup guide program 1075 to display the guidance informationcorresponds to the medium containing the computer peripheral devicemaintenance guide program according to the present invention. Note thatin the present embodiment, the setup guide program 1075 is executed byutilizing the setup CD-ROM, however, a medium for execution of the setupguide program is not limited to a medium having a material substancesuch as the CD-ROM. For example, the setup guide program may bedownloaded via a public communication line by utilizing the modem 1027and executed.

[0120] Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the aboveconstruction will be described.

[0121] To install the printer 1050 into the computer system, the papersupport is assembled, and AC cable and interface cable are connected byreferring to a book-style manual came with the printer. Thereafter, thepower of the computer 1010 is turned on, and the setup CD-ROM similarlypacked with the printer 1050 is attached to a CD-ROM drive 1019 b of thecomputer 1010. Then, the operating system 1043 reads the automaticstartup control information 1071 recorded in the setup CD-ROM, and inaccordance with the content of the information, first, the installprogram 1072 is started. The install program 1072 installs the programssuch as the printer driver 1073 and the utility 1074 recorded in thesetup CD-ROM into the computer 1010, and the program ends (step S110).

[0122] Thereafter, the setup guide program 1075 is executed by thecomputer 1010 (step S120). The setup guide program 1075 displays animage instructing to turn the power of the printer 1050 on (step S1210),and waits until the status information is obtained from the printer 1050via the printer driver 1073 (step S1220). When the user turns the powerof the printer 1050 on, the printer 1050 outputs the status information,so that the setup guide program 1075 can detect the status information,and executes the ink cartridge attachment [instruction] routine (stepS1230).

[0123] In the ink cartridge attachment instruction routine, as therespective images as shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 are sequentially displayed,the user attaches the ink cartridge to the printer 1050, in accordancewith the displayed contents of the respective images. Then, the printer1050 detects that the ink cartridge has been attached, and outputs theresult of detection as the status information. On the other hand, thesetup guide program 1075 on the computer 1010 side obtains the statusinformation, and in the image as shown in FIG. 20, activates the “OK”button provided in the lower right position in the image. Then the userclicks the “OK” button. The setup guide program 1075 detects the clickoperation and terminates the ink cartridge attachment instructionroutine (steps S1305 to S1350).

[0124] The setup guide program 1075, that terminated the ink cartridgeattachment instruction routine, next executes the ink charging displayroutine (step S1240). In the ink charging display routine, the image asshown in FIG. 21 is displayed to notify the user that the ink chargingis being performed. In FIG. 21, a status bar is provided in a lateraldirection at about the center of the image, and the status bar graduallyextends rightward from the left of the image in correspondence with theprogress of ink charging processing. The progress of ink chargingprocessing can be detected from the status information. The setup guideprogram 1075 gradually extends the status bar while detecting the actualprogress. In this image, when the ink charging is completed, the userclicks the “Next” button in the lower right position in the image. Then,the image as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed, and the user watches theimage and clicks the “Next” button in the lower right position in theimage, to terminate the ink charging display routine.

[0125] Thereafter, the setup guide program 1075 executes the nozzlecheck pattern printing routine (step S1250). In the nozzle check patternprinting routine, as the respective images as shown in FIGS. 24 to 26are sequentially displayed, the user sets paper for nozzle check patternprinting on the paper support and instructs to start the nozzle checkpattern printing, in accordance with the displayed contents of therespective images. Then, the setup guide program 1075 causes the printerdriver 1073 to generate predetermined print data and transfer the printdata to the printer 1050. The printer 1050 receives the print data, mapsthe print data on the buffer, and when the print data has been mapped,performs actual printing to print-output the nozzle check pattern (stepsS1410 to S1460).

[0126] In this manner, when the nozzle check pattern printing routinehas been completed, the setup guide program 1075 displays the image asshown in FIG. 27 such that the user determines by visual check whetheror not the nozzle check pattern is correctly printed. If the nozzlecheck pattern is not correctly printed, the user is advised to performhead cleaning (step S1260). If head cleaning is necessary, the userclicks the “Clean” button in the lower right position in the image.Then, the setup guide program 1075 executes the head cleaning routine(step S1270).

[0127] In the head cleaning routine, first, the image as shown in FIG.28 is displayed to advise the user to select a printhead unit as theobject of head cleaning from the black ink printhead unit, the color inkprinthead unit or both printhead units, and to click one of the “Black”,“Color” and “Both” buttons in accordance with the result of user'sselection. When the user clicks any one of these buttons, the setupguide program 1075 transmits the cleaning instruction command to theprinter 1050 to cause the printer to perform cleaning on a printheadunit of color ink corresponding to the actually clicked button. Then,the printer 1050 receives the cleaning instruction command, and startscleaning on the printhead unit of the corresponding color ink. At thistime, the setup guide program 1075 displays the image as shown in FIG.29 to notify the user that the head cleaning processing is beingperformed.

[0128] In this image, a moving picture showing a window being cleanedwith a wiper is displayed, and the residual time by the completion ofthe head cleaning is displayed. On the other hand, the printer 1050outputs the status where the head cleaning processing is being performedas the status information. The setup guide program 1075 side monitorsthe status information via the printer driver 1073, and when thecompletion of head cleaning processing is detected, the program displaysthe image as shown in FIG. 30 to notify the user of the completion ofthe setup operation (step S1280).

[0129] Note that in the present embodiment, the present invention isapplied to the setup operation of the printer 1050 to assist the user tosmoothly perform the setup operation, however, the present invention isnot limited to the setup operation. For example, the present inventionmay be applied to an ink cartridge exchange operation upon occurrence ofink shortage in normal printing. In this case, similarly, the presentinvention assist the user to smoothly perform the exchange operation.Further, the present invention may be applied to an error removaloperation upon occurrence of error such as paper jam. In this manner,various applications can be considered.

[0130] As described above, in the setup operation of the printer 1050,the status of the printer 1050 such as existence/absence of inkcartridge or ink charging is detected on the computer 1010 side via theprinter driver 1073, while the setup guide program 1075 determines theprogress of setup operation based on the status change of the printer1050 and sequentially displays images showing operation procedures incorrespondence with the progress. Accordingly, as it is unnecessary forthe user to perform the setup operation while determining the status ofthe printer 1050, the user can smoothly perform the setup operation.

[0131] Industrial Applicability

[0132] As described above, according to the present invention, todisplay guidance information relating to computer peripheral devicemaintenance operation, the progress of maintenance operation isdetermined based on the status change of the computer peripheral device,and the guidance information is displayed in correspondence with theprogress. Accordingly, if the maintenance operation is performed whiledetermining the status of the computer peripheral device, the presentinvention provides a medium containing a computer peripheral devicemaintenance guide program to display user-friendly guidance information,to assist the user to smoothly perform the maintenance operation.

[0133] Further, in the present invention according to claim 2, as guideinformation relating to maintenance operation is displayed as a movingpicture, the user can easily understand the operation.

[0134] Further, in the present invention according to claim 3, as theprogress of maintenance operation is displayed, the user can easilygrasp the progress without feeling insecure about the operation.

[0135] Further, in the present invention according to claim 4, asguidance information related to the operation check on the computerperipheral device is displayed, the inconvenience that the computerperipheral device does not operate in actual use can be reduced.

[0136] Further, in the present invention according to claim 5, as aresult of operation check on the computer peripheral device, if an errorhas been found in the operation of the device, the error can be removed.

[0137] Further, in the present invention according to claims 6 and 7similarly, in a case where maintenance operation is performed while thestatus of the computer peripheral device is determined, the presentinvention provides a computer peripheral device maintenance guide deviceand a computer peripheral device maintenance guide method to displayuser-friendly guidance information to assist the user to smoothlyperform the maintenance operation.

1. A medium containing a computer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide program to display guidance information indicative of a procedure of a maintenance operation of a computer peripheral device, in a computer to which the computer peripheral device is connected, said program comprising: a status change detection step of detecting a status change of said computer peripheral device; a progress acquisition step of acquiring progress of said maintenance operation, based on said status change of said computer peripheral device detected at said status change detection step; and a guidance display step of obtaining corresponding guidance information from a series of guidance information, provided corresponding to the progress of said maintenance operation in advance, based on said progress acquired at said progress acquisition step, and producing a screen display of the guidance information on said computer.
 2. The medium containing the computer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide program according to claim 1, wherein at said guidance display step, guidance information as a moving picture is displayed.
 3. The medium containing the computer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide program according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at said guidance display step, guidance information relating to the progress of said maintenance operation is displayed.
 4. The medium containing the computer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at said guidance display step, guidance information relating to a procedure of operation check on said computer peripheral device is displayed.
 5. The medium containing the computer-executable computer peripheral device maintenance guide program according to claim 4, wherein at said guidance display step, guidance information to remove an error in an operation of said computer peripheral device in said operation check is displayed.
 6. A computer peripheral device maintenance guide device to display guidance information indicative of a procedure of a maintenance operation of a computer peripheral device, in a computer to which the computer peripheral device is connected, said device comprising: a status change detection unit for detecting a status change of said computer peripheral device; a progress acquisition unit for acquiring progress of said maintenance operation, based on said status change of said computer peripheral device detected by said status change detection unit; and a guidance display unit for obtaining corresponding guidance information from a series of guidance information, provided corresponding to the progress of said maintenance operation in advance, based on said progress acquired by said progress acquisition unit, and producing a screen display of the guidance information on said computer.
 7. A computer peripheral device maintenance guide method to display guidance information indicative of a procedure of a maintenance operation for a computer peripheral device, in a computer to which the computer peripheral device is connected, said method comprising: a status change detection step of detecting a status change of said computer peripheral device; a progress acquisition step of acquiring progress of said maintenance operation, based on said status change of said computer peripheral device detected at said status change detection step; and a guidance display step of obtaining corresponding guidance information from a series of guidance information, provided corresponding to the progress of said maintenance operation in advance, based on said progress acquired at said progress acquisition step, and producing a screen display of the guidance information on said computer. 